IRVING (AP) — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was optimistic enough after a loss in Baltimore to say his team could evolve into a Super Bowl contender "not next year — this year."
His tune and tone changed a bit when the Cowboys lost star linebacker Sean Lee to a season-ending toe injury this week. He all but declared the team's leading tackler irreplaceable.
"That's a setback," Jones said. "The old adage that it gives someone else a chance to show what they've got doesn't necessarily apply here because he's a proven difference-maker out there."
Jones said all this with the Cowboys facing one of their biggest games of the year on Sunday. The NFC East-leading Giants will be in town, boasting the NFL's second-rated offense and eager to avenge a season-opening loss to Dallas.
The Cowboys also have to play the second straight game without their best running back, DeMarco Murray. The team isn't saying when Murray will return from a foot injury sustained in the Baltimore game two weeks ago, although Jones said he didn't think it would be long-term.
"I've said all along I think this team has an opportunity to be a contender, but the one exception that I made was ... sitting as we're sitting right now health-wise, injury can make a difference and does in the NFL," said Jones, whose 90-year-old mother, Arminta Jones, died this week.
Lee sustained ligament damage in his right big toe in last weekend's 19-14 win at Carolina, and surgery is scheduled for next week. He said he will be sidelined three to four months but should be healthy by February — in time for offseason workouts.
Coach Jason Garrett and his teammates expect Lee to be an active participant in practice and on game day, and the third-year pro out of Penn State indicated as much Thursday.
"You have to be positive because if you're negative you're not going to get any better," said Lee, who missed a year in college with a knee injury and sat out part of last season with a dislocated wrist before finishing the season in a cast. "As frustrating as it is, there's no getting around it."
Bruce Carter will take over Lee's spot and the defensive play-calling for the Cowboys, while Dan Connor, Lee's close friend and former Penn State teammate, will slide into Carter's spot. Connor signed as a free agent after four years at Carolina.
"I think everybody is going to miss him," Carter said. "He really took the job serious. That's something I've got to step up as a player for myself. I don't want to let those other guys down."
Related State News
Cruz just keeps on cruising as Giants' top threat
EAST RUTHERFFORD, N.J. (AP) — Victor Cruz came out of nowhere to become the New York Giants' go-to receiver a year ago.
With opponents watching his every move this season, and Hakeem Nicks still working his way back from a broken foot in the offseason and a swollen knee, Cruz remains quarterback Eli Manning's No. 1 target.
It was never more evident than last Sunday when the two-time Super Bowl MVP found Cruz on a 77-yard scoring pass play with 1:13 to play to give the NFC East-leading Giants (5-2) a dramatic 27-23 win over quarterback Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins.
Cruz not only leads the Giants with 50 catches for 627 yards and seven touchdowns, his total receptions is third overall in the league heading into this weekend's game against the Cowboys (3-3) in Dallas.
It's a great follow-up to a season in which he set a franchise record with 1,536 yards receiving. Though Cruz certainly hasn't looked at this year as a proving ground to show last year wasn't a fluke.
"I just wanted to come in and continue to play my game," he said. "I didn't want to come in and try to prove anybody wrong or prove all the doubters wrong. Because I think what I did last year proved a lot of people wrong in itself. So for my sake, (I) just (need to) continue to be consistent and continue to catch every ball that's thrown in my direction. That's the only thing I can do, is run my route, read the defenses, read the coverages and catch everything that's in my area."
Facing the Cowboys this weekend is going to give Cruz a chance to make up for what might have been his worst game. He dropped a couple of passes in the 24-17 loss to Dallas in the season opener.
"Giants-Cowboys is always a big game," Cruz said. "We want to come in and match their level of intensity. They're coming off a solid win against Carolina. We want to be able to match their intensity and come out firing."
If the Giants win, they can open a 2½-game lead over Dallas in the division, which might be tough to overcome. A second Cowboys' win over the champions, though, would muddy the waters in the NFC East.
"Teams are doing a good job of keeping the safety in my area and doing things coverage-wise to keep me away from making the big play," Cruz said. "But I think I've done a good job this year of taking advantage of those opportunities when we get the chance to get a big play called."
Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr knows what to expect from Cruz.
"I have been watching him on film." Carr said. "Just to see the momentum he has picked up since the last time we played ... I am going to have my work cut out for me."
Carr said Cruz has the ability to get off the line quickly. And once he catches the ball, he has the speed to break free.
"That is what they do best," Carr said. "They have confidence in their ability to finish games. Cruz's number has been called many times. He came through."
Cruz also is coming off a week in which he angered running back Ahmad Bradshaw by missing a block on a 15-yard run in the second half. Bradshaw yelled at Cruz and then belted him in the back of the helmet.
"He did. I'm not going to lie," Cruz said, adding he was not upset. "I feel like when you're on the field the coaches aren't out there playing for you, we're out there playing for each other. When we're out on that field it's all about us."
NOTES: The only Giants player ruled out for Sunday's game is linebacker Jacquian Williams. ... S Kenny Phillips (knee) and DT Rocky Bernard (quadriceps) have a chance to play for the first time in five games. ... Bradshaw, who only practiced once this week because of a lingering foot injury, is 50-50, while center David Baas (ankle) and Nicks, who had a good week of practice, are probable.
-- Tom Canavan
League News
NFL files motion, wants Tagliabue to hear appeals
NFL lawyers filed a motion in U.S. District Court in New Orleans on Friday, arguing that former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue should be allowed to hear appeals on the Saints' bounties case next week.
In their motion, NFL lawyers quote defendant Jonathan Vilma's statement to ESPN in which he supported Tagliabue being appointed to the role, saying "I think it's a good first step for Paul to be the neutral arbitrator."
NFL lawyers wrote that, "Mr. Vilma was right that Commissioner Tagliabue was a good appointment.
"Commissioner Tagliabue has the experience necessary to assess whether the conduct the players engaged in was detrimental to the League and, if so, to assess the propriety of the discipline that Commissioner Goodell imposed. It is difficult to think of anyone else more qualified."
The action comes after the players' union and the four players suspended in the bounties' case filed a motion asking that Tagliabue recuse himself from the case because of what they say is a conflict of interest. They want a neutral arbitrator to be appointed by the court.
NFL lawyers argue that the NFL Players Association has no basis to accuse Tagliabue of "anything nefarious," saying that the players' union itself admitted that Tagliabue has not had any "personal involvement in the investigation, arbitration or litigation of the 'bounty' matter."
The hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, subject to any rulings.
The players association has concerns about "ethical and legal" issues involving Tagliabue hearing appeals by Vilma and defensive end Will Smith, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and free agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove.
Vilma received the stiffest suspension of the four — ruled out for the entire season — but he played last Sunday while the appeals process is in motion.
The union also contends that pay-for-hits programs such as the one the NFL says operated in New Orleans existed when Tagliabue was commissioner, with his knowledge.
Tagliabue was NFL commissioner from 1989-2006. For part of that time, Goodell was the league's general counsel.
Goodell handed down the suspensions in May and they took effect in July after initial appeals were rejected by Goodell. Those suspensions lasted through training camp before being vacated by a three-member appeals panel that instructed Goodell to start the disciplinary process again and clarify his reasons for suspending the players.
The suspensions were reissued by the NFL two weeks ago and promptly appealed by all four players.
-- Steve Reed
Arizona S Johnson fined $21K for blindside block
NEW YORK (AP) — Arizona safety Rashad Johnson was fined $21,000 by the NFL on Friday for an illegal blindside block in the Cardinals' loss to the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday.
Vikings tight end John Carlson missed Minnesota's game against Tampa Bay on Thursday night because of concussionlike symptoms that appeared to result from Johnson's block during a punt.
Detroit cornerback Alphonso Smith was fined $15,750 for his horse-collar tackle on Chicago wide receiver Brandon Marshall in the Lions' loss Monday night. Smith was called for a penalty, which helped put the Bears in field-goal range. Marshall and fellow Bears receiver Earl Bennett were also docked $10,500 by the league for wearing orange cleats, a violation of the NFL's uniform policy.
Several other players were fined $7,875 by the league for various penalties, including St. Louis cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who grabbed the facemask of Green Bay's Jordy Nelson on a tackle last weekend that also drew a call for unnecessary roughness.
Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard drew a similar fine for a facemask penalty on Houston tight end Owen Daniels.
Carolina's Charles Godfrey was also docked for his low block on Dallas center Phil Costa, who was carted off the field. Panthers coach Ron Rivera signaled for trainers to tend to the Cowboys player immediately after he went down following Miles Austin's fumble. Godfrey received a personal foul penalty.
Washington offensive lineman Tyler Polumbus was fined for a leg whip on a run play against New York Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph.
Cleveland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson drew a fine for his late hit on Indianapolis rookie running back Vick Ballard that also drew a personal foul penalty.
San Francisco safety Dashon Goldson was docked $7,875 for taunting — unsportsmanlike conduct — after tackling Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch last Thursday night.
Ravens fined $20K for not listing Reed's injury
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL fined the Baltimore Ravens $20,000 Friday for not listing safety Ed Reed on the team's injury report.
Reed publicly acknowledged his right shoulder injury Oct. 17, a few days before the Ravens played Houston and said it could be affecting his play. The Pro Bowl safety played during practices and games after the injury occurred.
The league he should have been listed on the injury report with a shoulder injury and was fully participating in practice.
The NFL's policy on injury reports states that players with "significant or noteworthy injuries must be listed on the report, even if the player takes all the reps in practice." The rule covers players the team is certain will play in upcoming games.
Reed has played in every game this season. He has 30 tackles, two interceptions — including a 34-yard return for a touchdown — and seven passes defensed.
Washington and Buffalo were fined $20,000 each for similar infractions last week.
The Redskins were fined for not properly updating media on quarterback Robert Griffin III's status during a game against Atlanta on Oct. 7. He left with a head injury that turned out to be a mild concussion.
The Bills failed to list defensive end Mario Williams on the injury report while he was being treated for a sprained left wrist. Williams said on Oct. 3 that the wrist had been bothering him for weeks and limiting his play.
Colts' Chuck Pagano ready for second round of chemo
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Colts coach Chuck Pagano is ready for his second round of chemotherapy and probably will not return to the team until he completes it.
Interim coach Bruce Arians says doctors are trying to keep Pagano in as sterile environment as possible to prevent the risk of infection.
Pagano was hospitalized Sept. 26 after he was diagnosed with leukemia. He was released from the hospital Sunday and is continuing treatment at home.
The 52-year-old coach has stayed in contact with his players, writing another note to them this week. Arians did not say what was in the note.
Arians says not being around the team is driving Pagano "crazy," but he feels much better being home.
No comments:
Post a Comment